The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has scheduled a hearing for September 4 to consider a motion filed by the FCT Minister against the organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protest , which took place from August 1-10......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The minister is seeking a court order to prevent the five protest leaders – Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, and others – from gathering or demonstrating along any roads, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT, not only during the specified period but also on any future dates, pending the outcome of the motion.
The respondents in the case include the protest leaders, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Director General of the State Security Service, and the Chiefs of the Army, Air, and Naval Staff, among others.
Following an exparte application filed by the minister in the case and argued by Dr Ogwu Onoja SAN, the court had on July 31 ordered the protesters to restrict their protest to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
While granting the order, Justice Oriji acknowledged the rights of protesters to embark on protest but added that the restricting order was granted given the genuine fears expressed by the minister.
“In the light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are guaranteed,” the judge held.
On August 13, the judge further affirmed that the order of July 31 remained valid and in force.
At the resumed hearing of the case today, counsel for the minister, Moses Ebute SAN, informed the court that they (the plaintiff) were yet to serve the motion on notice on the respondents.
He, therefore, sought an adjournment to enable them to serve the motion on notice on the respondents.
Counsel for 1st to 4th respondents, Dr S.M Oyeghe, did not oppose the application for adjournment but rather asked for the motion to be served on them in the court.
The other respondents were neither present in court nor had legal representatives in attendance.
Based on the development, Justice Oriji adjourned the case to September 4 for hearing and directed the counsel for the plaintiff to serve the motion on notice on the respondents.